Katlyn opened the refrigerator and grabbed some lunchmeat and some cheese. She didn't know where he kept the bread and didn't want to take the time to look. She put a couple of slices of the meat and cheese on a paper towel and grabbed a soda.
"Morning Katy."
Katlyn jumped and dropped the food and back up.
Mark saw the look of total fear on her face.
"I'mmm ssorry." Katlyn stuttered.
Mark frowned. She acted like she was scared to death.
Mark went to help her pick up the food she dropped. Katlyn jumped back away from him.
Mark stopped.
"Katy I'm not going to hurt ya child." Mark said.
Mark bent and picked the food up she had dropped.
"How about we fix a real breakfast?" Mark asked.
Katlyn just stood there afraid to move.
Mark decided the best thing to do was to start fixing breakfast and let her chill out without forcing her into talking yet. Mark grabbed some eggs and bacon out of the fridge. He got out some frying pans.
Katlyn just watched him. He wasn't mad or didn't seem to be. She relaxed a little.
"Want to help me make pancakes?" Mark asked.
"I don't know how, I mean we never had electricity so we didn't cook, we just ate canned food or sandwiches." Katlyn said.
"I'll show ya how, come here." Mark said.
Katlyn walked over to stand beside him. Mark patiently explained what the ingredients were and what order to put them in the bowl. Mark watched as she carefully followed his directions. He started the bacon and eggs while she mixed the batter. Mark heated the oil for the pancakes and told her how much to drop in the pan.
Katlyn stood and watched the pancake and flipped it when Mark told her to. Katlyn took the pancake out and laid it on a plate and started another one.
"You're a natural cook sweetheart." Mark said smiling down at her.
Katlyn looked up at him and blessed him with the most beautiful smile.
"Lord you're a pretty thing when ya smile." Mark said.
Katlyn looked down and blushed.
They got breakfast done and sat down to eat.
"Katy, want to tell me why ya was so scared this morning?" Mark asked as they were eating.
"I just…I didn't think you would want me wondering around your house, since I tried to rob you…and I didn't know if I should get any food without asking you." Katlyn said quietly.
Katy look at me." Mark said.
Katlyn lifted her head and looked at him.
"You can eat anytime yer hungry, ya don't have to ask. And if I didn't trust ya in my home you wouldn't be here." Mark said firmly.
"But them cops told you I was bad news, I'm a thief." Katlyn said.
"I trust my own instincts and my instincts tell me yer a good person." Mark said looking in her big brown eyes.
"I don't want ya to be scared of me Katy, okay?" Mark said.
Katlyn nodded.
"Now I think the first thing ya need to do is concentrate on getting your GED, after shopping today. I'll take ya buy the school to take a placement test to see where yer at. You can take the classes ya need over the computer. Then when you complete that, ya can take a career placement test to see what kind of things you have an interest in. But first I think some shopping is in order. You need clothes." Mark said.
"How am I going to pay you back?" Katlyn asked.
"Don't worry about that. You get through school and work toward a career and that will be payment enough." Mark said.
"Why are you being nice to me?" Katlyn asked.
"Cause I like ya." Mark said smiling.
Katlyn just shook her head, she didn't understand this man.
"Come on let's clean up this mess we got a lot ta to today." Mark said.
Katlyn got up and started gathering up the dirty dishes.
"By the way Darlin, ya make really good pancakes." Mark said.
Katlyn smiled at him.
"Thanks." Katlyn said.
Mark just smiled and started to load the dishes in the dishwasher.
They spent the better part of the morning at the mall. Mark had to force her to pick clothes out. She kept telling him she didn't need much.
"Katy quit arguing, ya need clothes, if ya don't pick some out I'm going to do it for ya and god knows how I'd have ya dressed." Mark said grinning.
Katlyn just shook her head and picked out some jeans and t-shirts and added some underwear, socks and bras to the growing pile of clothes. Mark said nothing but picked out some dresses and skirts himself and threw them in the cart.
Katlyn looked up at him.
Mark grinned.
"I'd like ta see ya dressed like a girl sometimes." He said.
Katlyn blushed and looked down.
Mark threw his arm around her and gave her a quick hug.
"You're cute as a button." Mark said laughing.
Katlyn stiffened when he first touched her, but then she slowly relaxed. Mark had only been gentle with her, besides when he had kicked her and she knew that was an accident.
"How are ya ribs feeling?" Mark asked.
"They don't hurt to bad." Katlyn said.
"Good, hopefully in a few days you'll be feeling as good as new." Mark said.
Mark knew it was going to take more than a few days for her to get over the beating she took last night. She still wore the dark bruises from it.
Mark took her hand gently in his.
"Come on. Let's pay for this and get to school so you can take a placement test." Mark said.
Katlyn followed him willingly. Mark made her almost eager to began her new life.